Patent AU-2019100441-A4 (AU)
Title: Float PAL Float Paddle Automation in Laboratory practice or ‘Float PAL’ is a device designed to reproduce the actions of a manual operator using a float paddle to scrape the froth off the top of a float cell in a standard metallurgical laboratory flotation test.
Inventor: MOREY MICHAEL S
IPC: B03D1/14
Filed: 2019-04-26
Granted: 2019-06-06
Abstract: Float PAL - Abstract. Metallurgical laboratory flotation practice in Australia includes standardized flotation tests conducted by metallurgists or metallurgical technicians, using laboratory flotation machines and a standard work procedure. The work procedure includes grinding conditions and reagents additions, along with the standardized practice for manual froth scraping of a flotation cell, to produce timed mineral concentrates. There have been some attempts at automation for the collection of the mineralized froth in metallurgical laboratory flotation tests, including methods which simply increase air and agitation rates, to produce a free flowing froth which transfers, unaided, into trays of timed concentrates. Another example of automation is the use of a larger than standard flotation cell with rotating froth paddles. However, there has previously been no known automated procedure or device which is able to reproduce the standard test procedure performed manually by a metallurgist or metallurgical technician. Such automation of the manual, standard flotation froth scraping method enables a generation of test results under standard laboratory conditions, which are comparable with historical standard test results, kept in the metallurgical database. Thus continuity is provided with previous historical results from mine orebodies. As well as providing continuity with historical results, the flotation paddle automation in laboratory practice (Float PAL) provides a standard of reproducibility that is hard to match by a human operator, although some human operators are very good. A potential increase in laboratory flotation efficiency is also apparent through the use of Float PAL, with less fatigue generation in the test operator and potentially less boredom due to the high level of repetition of routine tasks associated with manual float tests. To generate the replicate action of a standard float test froth scrape procedure, the Float PAL device consists of three motion actuators, including a horizontal linear screw actuator with stepper motor, a vertical micro linear actuator, and a servo motor for rotational motion. Paddle control through the three servo motor actuators is provided via electronic control, with adjustments for horizontal speed and cycle time. Positioning of the Float PAL device is performed manually via adjustable brackets and a locking toggle, which locate the device at a set distance adjacent to a standard flotation cell, with the paddle in the correct position. One float PAL device is required for each side of a standard laboratory flotation machine to reproduce standard manual procedures using two paddles operated around the central agitator shaft. PIO, a t i. Standard a notation celoL B PAmat -PAL dk-wine swoemled in r2l5mm Position addseent to celL 3. lgwvi=E head drivine flomA radd3s. 4. Paddle loomm 215mm